Apple releases iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 with new AirDrop feature, Reminders alarms, AirPods Live Translation expansion, and more

Apple has today released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 to the public, bringing a new way to share files via AirDrop to people not in your contacts, the ability to set alarms for reminders,AirPods Live Translation support to the European Union, and more.

New Features and Changes for Blind, Deaf Blind, and Low Vision Users:

iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 include the following new features for blind, deaf blind, and low vision users:

• Toggles for Arrow Key and Single Letter Quick Nav have been added in Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Typing.
• The transparency of the Lock Screen clock can now be adjusted by double-tapping the Clock widget in the Lock Screen customization interface to reveal a new slider, which we believe may improve its legibility for low vision users.

Resolved Accessibility Bugs

Our experience is that the following accessibility bugs have been resolved or meaningfully improved in iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2:

• VoiceOver scroll gestures once again work to navigate messages in the Mail app.
• Message indicators to the right of iMessages, such as the "Sent with Siri" button, are now correctly labeled.

New Accessibility Bugs

We are currently aware of two new accessibility bugs in these releases:

• The toolbar in the compose window of the Mail app is not detected by VoiceOver. This makes it impossible to attach files to emails, directly access Writing Tools, and perform other functions found in this toolbar. However, they can still be performed using alternative means, such as using the "Edit" rotor to access Writing Tools, and the Files app to attach files.
• When swiping passed the message text field in the Messages app after typing a message, VoiceOver sometimes skips the "Send" button, moving to the top of the keyboard instead.

If you notice any further changes, improvements, or regressions in your use of these releases, please post a comment below with your findings.

Release Notes

iOS 26.2

This update includes enhancements to Apple Music, Podcasts, and Games, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPhone.

Apple Music

• Favorite Songs playlist appears in Top Picks on the home tab
• Offline lyrics for downloaded songs so you can view them without an internet connection

Podcasts

• Automatically generated chapters make it easier to navigate episodes
• Links to mentioned podcasts let you see and follow other podcasts mentioned in the episode you’re listening to directly from the player and transcript

Games

• Filters in the Games library let you find games by category, size, and more
• In-game challenge score banners provide real-time updates when someone new has taken the lead
• Improved support for connected controllers such as Backbone and Razer

This update also includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

• Additional Lock Screen time customization option lets you further adjust its appearance, giving the Liquid Glass material more or less opacity
• Enhanced Safety Alerts can inform you about imminent threats such as floods, natural disasters, and other emergencies, with rich information like a map of affected areas and links to additional safety guidance (available in the U.S.)
• Alarms for Reminders help you stay on top of urgent tasks, and provide snooze and Live Activity support if you’re not ready to check the reminder off
• AirDrop codes offer an additional layer of verification when using AirDrop with unknown contacts by providing a code on the receiver’s device that the sender must enter to complete the transfer
• Apple News Section links at the top of the Today feed offer easy navigation to popular topics like Sports, Politics, Business, and Food
• Multipack accessory pairing in the Home app lets you use the same setup code to easily enroll multiple accessories when sold together
• Flash for alerts in Accessibility Settings offers the additional option to have the device screen flash when you receive a notification
• Tables in Freeform can hold text, images, documents, and drawings, with cells that intelligently resize to fit, bringing structure to the infinite canvas
• Fixes an issue where pre-release albums in the Apple Music library were not immediately playable at their release time
• Fixes an issue where a Privacy and Security setting may incorrectly be marked as managed by an enterprise organization

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/100100

Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models. To learn more, please visit:
https://apple.com/ios/feature-availability/

Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/125039

iPadOS 26.2

This update enhances the new windowing system introduced in iPadOS 26 with familiar drag and drop gestures for tiling app windows and creating a Slide Over window. It also includes enhancements to Apple Music, Podcasts, and Games, as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your iPad.

Multitasking

• Multitasking gestures to quickly tile windows or place an app in Slide Over by dragging app icons from the Dock

Apple Music

• Favorite Songs playlist appears in Top Picks on the home tab
• Offline lyrics for downloaded songs so you can view them without an internet connection

Podcasts

• Automatically generated chapters make it easier to navigate episodes
• Links to mentioned podcasts let you see and follow other podcasts mentioned in the episode you’re listening to directly from the player and transcript

Games

• Filters in the Games library let you find games by category, size, and more
• In-game challenge score banners provide real-time updates when someone new has taken the lead
• Improved support for connected controllers such as Backbone and Razer

This update also includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:

• Additional Lock Screen time customization option lets you further adjust its appearance, giving the Liquid Glass material more or less opacity
• AirDrop codes offer an additional layer of verification when using AirDrop with unknown contacts by providing a code on the receiver’s device that the sender must enter to complete the transfer
• Alarms for Reminders help you stay on top of urgent tasks, and provide snooze and Live Activity support if you’re not ready to check the reminder off
• Apple News Section links in the sidebar of the News app offer easy navigation to popular topics like Sports, Politics, Business, and Food
• Multipack accessory pairing in the Home app lets you use the same setup code to easily enroll multiple accessories when sold together
• Flash for alerts in Accessibility Settings offers the additional option to have the device screen flash when you receive a notification
• Tables in Freeform can hold text, images, documents, and drawings, with cells that intelligently resize to fit, bringing structure to the infinite canvas
• Fixes an issue where pre-release albums in the Apple Music library were not immediately playable at their release time
• Fixes an issue where a Privacy and Security setting may incorrectly be marked as managed by an enterprise organization

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/100100

Some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPad models. To learn more, please visit:
https://apple.com/ios/feature-availability/

Software updates, like this one, add new features and improvements that may affect performance and/or battery life. To learn more, please visit:
https://support.apple.com/125039

How to Update

iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 are available via Over-the-Air Update (Settings > General > Software Update), via Finder on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, or via iTunes on a PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier.

Before updating, we strongly recommend making a full and complete backup of your device (either locally or in iCloud, depending on personal preference). This will ensure that, in the unlikely event that something goes wrong during the update process, you will have a current backup on hand in case a device restore becomes necessary. Also, if using OTA update, we recommend plugging your device into a power source for the duration of the download/installation process, so as to prevent the unlikely event of your battery going dead during the update.